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Psychology of Virality

by Rachel Ryu

Viral content is, arguably, the dominant form of media on social networking sites, and a major force across the Internet as a whole. The content itself varies: cat videos, memes, momentous news, trypophobic images, and even outrageous acts of violence. 

 
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They Are a Cat

bY Axel-Nathaniel Rose

Winds like hell, with heat that left all metal and stone warm to the touch hours after the sun had gone down. It could have been Autumn - the leaves were dried, brittle, cracked.

 
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Coriolanus - A Review

bY Isobel Knight

From the beginning, the intention is an immersion in the stressful political climate of Rome amid the Roman-Volscian war, albeit in an updated and abstracted version.

“When I’m struck with inspiration, I can’t keep it in. I’ve been known to sit down on the side of a footpath, half way out of a coffeeshop, and in a variety of other odd places in order to get an idea on to paper” In addition to being three years down her Bachelor of Computer Sciences, Emily Olorin is a radiant personality who’s also known for her prose ‘Swansong’ at Tharunka’s Kinky edition. Here’s a peep into her favorites and her writing skills. #contributorwednesdays Read more about Emily @ https://tharunka.com/emily-olorin/ What is your favourite piece of work, and why? “My favourite work is, hands down, Afterparty by Daryl Gregory. It combines my love of neuroscience, questions of mental health and an in-depth exploration on the nature of faith; and it doesn’t just gloss over any of these topics, either, it works them so deep into the storyline that you don’t even notice that you’re learning and questioning until you suddenly understand the limbic system and are questioning everything you ever thought about how brains work. On top of this, it also has some of the most amusing prose I’ve had the pleasure of reading: “Love at first sight is a myth, but thundering sexual attraction at first sight is hard science.” I’m currently cross stitching that quote to hang on my wall.” Your greatest inspiration? "Hands down, my greatest inspiration is Margaret Atwood. Not her novels, I find them average at best, but her short stories and, mostly, her poetry. I was introduced to her poetry as a teen, and it absolutely changed my life. She describes events in such a succinct and visceral way, I could happily spend the rest of my life trying to express as much as she does in as few words." #compulsiveReader #tiredPigeon #chaoticNeutral #drowningInTea #crazyCatLady @raynecatseye If you are interested in writing, illustrating or reading the rants of the Tharunka team, Join us soon via Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/517789461939100/
You know what's better than making a promise to write poetry every single day of the year? Sticking to that promise for more than a year! Today's the day to appreciate the work of a guy who has initiated, hosted and performed in many poetry slams and continues to not only contribute but also facilitate poetry within Tharunka's circle. Many of you would have seen him facilitate at our poetry workshop, so here's a little more to know him. What is the best part of writing? Creating something that impacts people; that just makes them go "wow". What is your favourite piece of work, and why? The best I've written is about the rain. My favourite piece is Worm, by Wildbow (John C McRae). Where do you like to write? Anywhere I can, really. Starbucks, my bedroom, uni. The more important question is when do I like to write? (at night). Who is your greatest inspiration? Shane Koyczan. He's a testament to the fact that poetry hasn't lost its beauty in the modern day. If you were to describe yourself in a few hashtags…. #esoteric #paradox #uphimself If you are interested in writing, illustrating or reading the rants of the Tharunka team, don't hesitate to join our contributors' group via Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/517789461939100/
"Creating something that wasn't there before has no equal or more fulfilling feeling to me, and writing is one way to do that." Well known for her coffee addiction and passion for biology, Scarlett Li-Williams is an enthusiastic contributor to Tharunka's publications. Here are a couple of questions, apart from where she loves to write (obviously COFFEE shops), to know a bit more of her. Read even more about Scarlett @ https://tharunka.com/scarlett-li-williams/ What is your favourite piece of work, and why? "The book 'Alice In Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll. Each time you read it at a different point in your life, some parts suddenly make more sense and seem less surreal, whilst other parts you interpret slightly differently to how you did before. I have never put it down with the same impression it left last time. Wonderland really is not as strange a place and you may think, it is more like reality than reality is sometimes. Just looking it up on google, you will discover there are many layers to the book than you originally thought." Who is your greatest inspiration? "Tove Jansson. An illustrator, writer and cartoonist from Finland who was courageous and brave with what she created, always stayed true to herself no matter what the consequences could be, as many writers and artists are." If you were to describe yourself in a few hashtags…. #coffee-addict #bit-of-a-mess #keen #biologyobsessed If you are interested in writing, illustrating or reading the rants of the Tharunka team, don't hesitate to join our contributors' group via Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/517789461939100/
"The actual formulation of getting words that string together is quite magical, when it happens! But overall, being able to communicate a message, a concept, a feeling to a reader is amazing." Axel-Nathaniel Rose is a second year English student and an active member of the cohort that contributes to Tharunka's publications. You could call him a feminist, advocate, theatrical enthusiast and the list goes on... Read more about Axel @ https://tharunka.com/axel-nathaniel-rose/ On his relationship with Tharunka... "I was an avid reader of Tharunka last year, my first year at uni, but began contributing with the first issue, ‘Kinky’, this year. Two of my family are both contributors so it’s sort of a natural part of most conversations, always lurking in the back of my mind, or, more literally, on my bedside table." What was your hardest scene/ piece to write? "My piece for Viral, ‘-genic’ was quite difficult. It details the experience of a boy with obsessive compulsive disorder feeling like he’s contaminating those around him with an illness that is psychogenic – as in, a product of the psyche, not directly the body. I desperately didn’t want to get it ‘wrong’, so there was research and fretting and editing and more fretting." If you were to describe yourself in a few hashtags… "I don’t really use hashtags, so here are all the self-referential ones I’ve used on Instagram. They’re all true, though not hugely informative. #transgender #transman #rockyhorror" If you are interested in writing, illustrating or reading the rants of the Tharunka team, don't hesitate to join our contributors' group via Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/517789461939100/
"The best part of creating illustrations for me is the feelings I get after a completed piece" Charm Sing is a second year Design student in UNSW and one of Tharunka's great contributors. She believes that her illustrations are the best way to express herself and continues to come up with unique pieces of art for the creatives section. #contributorwednesdays Read more about Charm @ https://tharunka.com/charm-sing-1 What is your favourite piece of work, and why? "My recent illustration depicts precolonial Filipino culture and it’s one of my favourite pieces of work as it is relevant to my identity as a Filipino woman in the sense that it can become difficult to define who we are as Filipinos in a singular mold. Because of our history of colonisation and occupation by different countries, it can be hard to pin-point exactly the definitions that make us who we are. I also love this work because through this illustration I feel that I am able to share with others, aspects of my culture and the histories that are associated with it. I feel that in the future, I will always end up creating works that represent my identity and where I come from as my heart will always be home!" If you were to describe yourself in a few hashtags…. #filipina #aktibista #peminista Which translates to #activist #feminist If you are interested in writing, illustrating or reading the rants of the Tharunka team, don't hesitate to join our contributors' group via Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/517789461939100/
Last few hours to vote for the Student Directors of Arc Board 2018! If you’ve postponed or completely forgotten to vote, it’s the right time to open your arc email, access the poll and vote for the students who will strive for a better student life at UNSW. Be smart, do your part, VOTE! #yourvoteyourvoiceyourfuture #makeyourvotecount #Arcboard2018
"There’s something about synthesising the argument into as few words as possible that indulges my authoritarian streak." Henry Chen is a second year student at UNSW who has contributed to Tharunka since his first year in uni. We popped a few questions to him to know him better as a writer and as a part of the magazine. #Contributorwednesdays Read more about Henry at https://tharunka.com/henry-chen/ What is the best part of writing? “Being able to sit somewhere and think on my own. There’s something about synthesising the argument into as few words as possible that indulges my authoritarian streak. On the other end of the spectrum, deadlines are really good at teaching you to prioritise. It comes out to creative efficiency, if you will." Describe your relationship with Tharunka. “I’ve contributed two articles – one last year, and one this year.I’ve been sticking my nose in because Arc is fantastic and guarantees Tharunka as a student voice, but ultimately I’m not a frequent contributor." About his favorite piece of work... “A short blog post I wrote in the summer break, about strange editorial practices at the Age. I researched and wrote it in about 3 hours, with all the information self-contained or linked to. It was a frenzy of activity, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, because this was something I was genuinely passionate about. In brief, a commentator responding to controversy with a follow-up article had silently edited his original article to remove many of the contentious claims. It was actually really fun to go through the two versions side-by-side, identifying the differences by hand." If you were to describe yourself in a few hashtags…. “#atotc #auspol #MR2018” If you are interested in writing, illustrating or reading the rants of the Tharunka team, don't hesitate to join our contributors' group via Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/groups/517789461939100/
All student media has been barred from attendance in the upcoming budget lock-up. The lock-up is anticipated to reveal significant policy changes that could affect the education and well-being of tertiary students all around Australia. The denial of our attendance essentially silences the only media that prioritises student welfare in the post-budget conversation, effectively leaving our best interests neglected and ignored. Students demand better. Students deserve better. #LockUp
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Tharunka acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal and Bedigal people of the Eora nation, on which our university now stands.